Heroes in Grief

Patricia Mazza Vlamis is an artist and photographer who aspires to use her talents to help othersAs an adult bereaved as a child, others who have experienced loss at a young age are near and dear to her heart. Her hope is that this book will help them process their feelings and remember their loved ones who have died. She is on a mission to create more resources for grieving children.Pat's Book - My Memory Journal: A Coloring Book for Children Who Have Experienced Loss and Grief: https://amzn.to/4sI4FIBPat's Portfolio: https://pmazzavlamis.myportfolio.com/========================================Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingriefNEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1vHeroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.comContact Tom: tom@heroesingrief.comTom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalksOur partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.comGet Griefy Collective (Business Collective for anyone helping those in grief): https://get-griefy-small-business-collective.mn.co/share/d6W3Hzr6rS1NIhee?utm_source=manualYou also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at tom@heroesingrief.com to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shopThank you!!!

Amy Shaw never set out to become an expert in navigating life’s hardest seasons, but through profound personal loss she gained deep insight into resilience, rebuilding, and purposeful living. She learned how to move forward with clarity, strength, and hope when circumstances offered no easy answers.Today, Amy is a keynote speaker, author, coach, and contemporary artist who brings both compassion and perspective to her work. Her expertise is shaped by years of navigating caregiving, loss, leadership, and rebuilding—both personally and professionally—and by walking alongside others through seasons of grief, transition, strained relationships, financial pressure, and overwhelming family challenges. She helps people gain clarity, regain footing, and move forward with purpose.Known for her warmth, creativity, and grounded presence, Amy brings depth, joy, and an unmistakable sense of life to everything she does. Her work is shaped by faith, lived experience, and a deep belief that even in the most difficult seasons, meaningful growth and lasting impact are possible.Amy's Links: Website - Walk the Red: https://walkthered.com/Book - Navigating Goodbye - A Guide for those Blindsided by Terminal Illness: https://amzn.to/3Z7LOZGInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/walktheredcoachingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-shaw-295270347/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grainofwheat========================================Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingriefNEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1vHeroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.comContact Tom: tom@heroesingrief.comTom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalksOur partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.comGet Griefy Collective (Business Collective for anyone helping those in grief): https://get-griefy-small-business-collective.mn.co/share/d6W3Hzr6rS1NIhee?utm_source=manualYou also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at tom@heroesingrief.com to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions:

Karen Bulinski Mathison was born in Buffalo, New York, and has spent her life learning that grief doesn't follow a timeline—it shatters one.She lost her husband to a brain aneurysm. She lost her father to cancer on Christmas, her 50th birthday. She lost the last man she loved, suddenly and without warning. She's navigated pet loss, miscarriage, secondary grief, and the isolation that comes when the world moves on but you're still standing in the wreckage.But loss also taught her something else: that raw, authentic grief work transforms everything.Karen holds a Master's Degree in Mental Health & Wellness with an emphasis in Grief & Bereavement from Grand Canyon University. She's a Certified Death Doula through IAP Career College, a Certified Life Coach, and holds certifications in Art Therapy Coaching and Emotional Trauma First Aid.She combines clinical expertise with lived experience—she's studied grief academically and survived it personally. That combination is rare. That combination is powerful.In 2024, Karen founded The Naked Grief, a comprehensive grief support platform built on a simple truth: grief support should be raw, authentic, accessible, and unapologetic.The Naked Grief's dark, heavy logo isn't accidental. It represents that initial impact—the moment loss rocks hard and cuts like glass. But the communities within are brighter and lighter because support changes the shape of your grief backpack, making it less heavy to carry. It doesn't erase the weight. It makes it bearable.Karen is most proud of three things:The RAW Experience Podcast — Co-hosted with spiritual healer Melissa Bishop, this podcast dissects Friends episodes to identify disenfranchised grief and demonstrate how unaddressed life challenges create a spiral effect. It's grief education disguised as entertainment, reaching people who wouldn't otherwise seek help.The Grief Garden Series — A collection of short stories and creative tools that help people identify the array of emotions experienced during grief as companions walking with us on our healing journey. Characters like Hope, Love, Faith, Resilience, and Pain become guides through loss.Global Grief Awareness — Her mission to make discussing grief a common dialogue that occurs before loss, not just after. Prevention through conversation. Preparation through community.Karen is passionate about one thing: disenfranchised grief—all the losses that come with or separate from the death of a person. The lost promotion due to grief brain. The warning at work because productivity suffered. The trauma and isolation that happens when employers and society don't recognize grief as legitimate.She believes that mental health support in the workplace isn't a luxury—it's a retention strategy, a productivity multiplier, and a basic act of humanity. When people feel seen and supported through life's hardest moments, they don't just survive. They transform.Karen was born in Buffalo, New York, and plans to eventually join her family in Holy Trinity Cemetery in Lewiston, Niagara County—a full-circle return to her roots and a reminder that grief, legacy, and connection are all intertwined.She's honored to be here with Tom Bender and the Heroes in Grief community, talking about the losses nobody talks about and the support everyone deserves.Karen's links: Website: thenakedgrief.comSupport Assessment: a...

With over five years of experience companioning others in grief, Terri believes that healing begins not with fixing, but with feeling. Her work is not about offering quick solutions or rushing through sorrow. It is about holding space gently and patiently, without judgment. She witnesses grief in all its rawness and stays present with it, honoring each person's pain as sacred and deeply personal.Terri’s understanding of grief is not only professional, it is deeply personal. She has experienced profound loss herself, including the deaths of her first husband, her son, her father, and her sister. Each loss shaped her perspective and deepened her compassion. Through her own healing journey, Terri learned that grief doesn’t have a timeline and that love doesn’t end when life does. Her personal experiences allow her to meet others in their grief with genuine empathy, a tender heart, and the knowing that healing is not about moving on, but about learning to live fully while carrying the love forward.Her approach to grief support is rooted in presence and trust. She listens with her heart, not just her ears. This companioning model, one of walking beside rather than leading or pushing, is central to everything she does. Whether in private sessions, community workshops, or conversations sparked by her writing, she offers a steady presence, a soft place to land, and a reminder that you do not have to go through it alone.Terri has had the privilege of co-authoring the best-selling book Unstoppable and sharing her voice in various publications. Yet the deepest honor comes in the quiet moments when someone allows her into their grief. When they cry. When they reflect. When they trust her enough to let their guard down. Terri believes in the possibility of healing, not by forgetting or getting over it, but by learning how to carry both the love and the loss forward.As a Grief Companion & Educator, Terri also teaches others how to walk beside the grieving through her accredited certification programs. These programs reflect the same heart-centered, presence-based philosophy that guides her own work. It is a sacred privilege for her to walk beside someone in their grief, to witness their heartache, and to remind them that even in the midst of sorrow, they are never alone.Terri's links: Website: https://www.myhealingheartscommunity.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terri.chaplin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefcoachterri/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-terri-chaplin-54043352/========================================Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingriefNEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1vHeroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.comContact Tom: tom@heroesingrief.comTom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): a...

Graham Maxey is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas and Pennsylvania and the Clinical Director for the Center for Grief and Traumatic Loss in Libertyville, Illinois. He holds a B.A and an M.Div. degree from Texas Christian University, and an M.A. in Behavioral Science from the University of Houston/Clear Lake. Part of his job as Clinical Director is to train licensed mental health workers in the Induced After Death Communication therapy technique discovered by Dr. Allan Botkin, Psy.D. He lives in Arlington, Texas with his wife, Shannon, who is a certified grief counselor and evidential psychic medium.Mr. Maxey has trained therapists in the IADC method all over the United States and Canada, as well as in Turin, Italy at the University of Turin, and in Germany at the Milton Erickson Institute in Heidelburg.Graham was invited to produce the program for Humana Medicare insurance on healthy grieving presented in all 39 Humana Neighborhood Learning Centers across the United States and trained all Learning Center directors in its presentation. He was the leader for Humana’s associate grief support group from 2015-2021. As part of the Humana Clinical Education series for licensed mental health associates Mr. Maxey presented on the topic of Counseling Clients Who Have Had Spiritually Transformative Experiences.Graham has been a speaker at the Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling conference in 2017, and his address to the International Association for Near-Death Studies in 2015 is still available on YouTube. He co-authored Case Studies in Induced After Death Communication Therapy for the journal Grief Matters: The Australian Journal of Grief and Bereavement. Grief Matters. He is the featured IADC therapist in the documentary film by Stephen Berkley, Life with Ghosts: The Healing Power of After-Death Communication, scheduled to be aired on PBS.He has written two books awaiting publication: Seasons of the Soul: The Repeating Cycle of Psychospiritual Development, and Five Great Things Anyone Can Get from Listening to the Dead—the Mental Health of After Death Communication.Contact Graham: growtherapy: http://www.growtherapy.com/Email: zephat@swbell.net========================================Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingriefNEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1vHeroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.comContact Tom: tom@heroesingrief.comTom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalksOur partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.comGet Griefy Collective (Business Collective for anyone helping those in grief):

Camille Dan is the mother of Aaron in spirit, his two brothers, one sister, and a grandmother of two. She has professional experience as a Critical Care Registered Nurse, a Medical Technical Consultant for Feature Films and Television, and a Private Investment Manager. She is the Self-Published Author of "Aaron's Energy: An Unexpected Journey Through Grief and the Afterlife With My Brilliant Son", publisher and curator of "Gathering at the Doorway: An Anthology of Signs, Visits, and Messages from the Afterlife", and a chapter contributor to "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Grieving, Loss, and Healing" and "The Beauty of a Grieving Mother". She founded The Book Club Across the Veil for authors and readers to freely share and promote books and resources on grief, healing, spirituality, metaphysics, afterlife, mediumship, NDE, ancient wisdom, sacred geometry, numerology, and more subjects of this genre, on Instagram and Facebook Groups. She appears on many podcasts, radio, YouTube shows, and live events. She shares Books of the Month with the book club, resources for grief and healing, plus an extensive list of hundreds of 4- and 5-star books of recommended reading. Everything Camille does to honour the memory of her son, Aaron, she does at no charge. All earnings from sales of Camille’s books, “Aaron’s Energy”, “Gathering at the Doorway”, and her upcoming book (tba) are donated to charities listed under Giving.Camille's website: https://www.aaronsenergy.com/Book Club Across the Veil site: https://www.bookclubacrosstheveil.com/Books: Aaron's Energy: An Unexpected Journey Through Grief and teh Afterlife with my Brilliant Son: https://amzn.to/4pTDWXPGathering at the Doorway: An Anthology of Signs, Visits, and Messages from the Afterlife: https://amzn.to/4iXDcy0========================================Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingriefNEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1vHeroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.comContact Tom: tom@heroesingrief.comTom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalksOur partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.comGet Griefy Collective (Business Collective for anyone helping those in grief):

Vanessa May is a holistic grief coach and certified grief educator. She is also a nutritional therapist, wellbeing coach and spiritual life coach who has a new book out titled: 'When Grief Takes Everything.' Vanessa has written two other books: ‘Love Untethered: How to Live When Your Child Dies’ and ‘Supporting Your Grieving Client: A Guide for Wellness Practitioners’. She lives in London, UK.Vanessa's Website: www.vanessamay.co.ukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/may.wellbeing.griefsupport/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holisticgriefsupportVanessa's books'When Grief Takes Everything' https://amzn.to/4pnDAsb‘Love Untethered: How to Live When Your Child Dies’ https://amzn.to/4pwz5vh‘Supporting Your Grieving Client: A Guide for Wellness Practitioners’ https://amzn.to/48BF2jr========================================Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingriefNEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1vHeroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.comContact Tom: tom@heroesingrief.comTom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalksOur partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.comGet Griefy Collective (Business Collective for anyone helping those in grief): https://get-griefy-small-business-collective.mn.co/share/d6W3Hzr6rS1NIhee?utm_source=manualYou also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at tom@heroesingrief.com to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you! Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shopThank you!!!

Holly Gainsboro, founder of Golden Heart Grief Support & Education, is a Grief Support Specialist/Coach & Grief Educator. Holly’s late husband, Steven, died in December 2010, from glioblastoma. Holly began her work in the grief field more than a decade ago, earning her first certification as a Grief Recovery Specialist. She continued her studies and received her certification as a Grief Educator with world renowned grief expert, David Kessler, as well as being certified as a Grief Support Specialist from the University of Wisconsin. Holly believes that learning never stops and recently completed another training and certification as a Grief & Loss Provider with Claire Bidwell Smith. Holly recognizes that grievers don’t need to be fixed, they need to be heard, seen, and supported. Holly’s passion/purpose is to be present for those who have experienced losses by guiding them through the feelings of grief and leading them to a place of peace and hope while honoring their relationships/experiences.Holly says," I normalize grief and invite growth and learning throughout the journey using a heart centered, and holistic approach.”Holly works 1:1 with women who have lost a loved one to a brain tumor or are caring for a loved one diagnosed with a brain tumor, facilitates grief support groups, and leads grief education workshops for various organizations. She is the co-host of the podcast Creating Space for Grief & Hope.Creating Space for Grief & Hope - Podcast - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-space-for-grief-hope/id1642783207Website: https://goldenheartgrief.com/ (Grief counseling, Charlotte, NC)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldenheartgriefsupport/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goldenheartgriefsupportLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-gainsboro-3b528833/========================================Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingriefNEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1vHeroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.comContact Tom: tom@heroesingrief.comTom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalksOur partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.comGet Griefy Collective (Business Collective for anyone...

Charlene Lam is a curator, grief coach, TEDx speaker, and the author of Curating Grief: A Creative Guide to Choosing What to Keep After a Loved One Dies. After her mother died suddenly in 2013, she leaned into her creativity and instincts as a curator to navigate her grief, an experience that became the foundation of her Curating Grief® philosophy and body of work. Through her platform The Grief Gallery®, she presents exhibitions featuring the belongings of loved ones lost, with installations in London, New York City, and Los Angeles. As a grief coach, she guides people through her signature 10 Object Method™, a creative process that helps them engage with their memories and make space for what truly matters. A proud Chinese-American New Yorker like her mom, Charlene is now based in Lisbon, Portugal and works with clients worldwide.Website: www.curatinggrief.comThe Grief Gallery - for exhibitions and art: www.thegriefgallery.comCharlene Lam - for grief coaching and resources: www.charlenelam.comLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/charclam/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/curating_griefYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@thegriefgalleryThe Grief Gallery’s Free Monthly Gathering - last Wed of every month at 2pm ET: www.charlenelam.com/gathering========================================Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingriefNEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1vHeroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.comContact Tom: tom@heroesingrief.comTom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalksOur partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.comGet Griefy Collective (Business Collective for anyone helping those in grief): https://get-griefy-small-business-collective.mn.co/share/d6W3Hzr6rS1NIhee?utm_source=manualYou also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom

About Sweta: From Cancer Scare to Ayurvedic DoctorA few years ago, I found myself on the cancer watch list. It was terrifying and life changing. I realized firsthand how conventional medicine alone wasn’t enough—it gave me tools, but it didn’t offer the complete healing I needed. That’s when I returned to Ayurveda. Through Ayurveda’s ancient wisdom, I not only transformed my own health but also discovered my life’s calling—to become an Ayurvedic Doctor and help others.Through this ancient science, I healed from the inside out. Today, as an Ayurvedic Doctor (AD) trained by Dr. Vasant Lad and other incredible teachers and a Columbia University graduate, I bridge eastern and western approaches to help others reclaim their vitality. This works feels both intuitive and deeply personal.My background in corporate and nonprofit spaces gave me insight into the real-life stressors my clients face every day. Today, I help high-achievers like you restore energy, reduce stress, improve gut health, and live more fully—without having to give up ambition or overhaul your entire life.My journey has taught me that true healing doesn’t require rigid routines or impossible lifestyle changes. Having navigated both corporate burnout and entrepreneurship, I understand the delicate balance between ambition and wellbeing.Order Sweta's books here: https://amzn.to/49gG8D7Sweata's links: Website: https://www.swetavikram.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SwetasWordsandWellness/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swetavikramLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/swetavikram/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticWellnessWithSwetaX: https://x.com/swetavikramThe Grounded Leader Podcast: https://thegroundedleader.buzzsprout.com/========================================Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingriefNEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1vHeroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.comContact Tom: tom@heroesingrief.comTom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker):

Emilio Parga is the Founder and Executive Director of The Solace Tree, a non-profit grief and loss center for children, teens, adults, and families in Reno, Nevada. He is the author of No Child Should Grieve Alone and many other journals and books for children, teens, and adults experiencing death and loss.Celebrating 23 Years at The Solace Tree, Emilio has co-founded numerous grief centers in Nevada, and one in New York after September 11, 2001. He teaches courses at the University Nevada, Reno and the Nevada School of Medicine on death, dying and loss, and is frequently consulted to support in the aftermath of traumatic events such as school shootings and mass shootings locally and nationally. Emilio works with athletes at the high school and university level when a loved one or teammate has died. He also facilitates national Zoom Meetings for adults who have experienced suicide and first responders through the Nevada Donor Network.As a national speaker, Emilio facilities workshops, professional development for schools K-12, coaches, high school teams, universities, and businesses. He also serves as a bereavement consultant/trainer to social services, hospitals, funeral homes, emergency services, and companies.Solace Tree: Website: https://www.solacetree.org/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSolaceTreeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/solacetreereno/X (Twitter): https://x.com/SolaceTree========================================Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingriefNEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1vHeroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.comContact Tom: tom@heroesingrief.comTom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalksOur partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.comGet Griefy Collective (for anyone helping those in grief): https://get-griefy-small-business-collective.mn.co/share/d6W3Hzr6rS1NIhee?utm_source=manualYou also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at tom@heroesingrief.com to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you! Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions:

Bernadette Thompson is an Intuitive Ancestral Healer, a certified Grief and Trauma expert, an End-of-Life Doula, and a trauma-informed genealogist. Her journey began with a spiritually transformative experience through her own grief, an awakening that changed everything and guided her to where she is today.As the owner of Tell Me Our Story, Ancestral Healing works with those who feel the ache of loss, helping them navigate their grief and find profound healing through Ancestral Healing and Spirit connections. She has been a panel speaker at 2024 and 2025 International Association of Near-Death Studies conference.Tell Me Our Story, Ancestral HealingWebsite: https://www.tellmeourstory.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TellMeOurStoryInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tellmeourstoryancestralhealing/========================================Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingriefNEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1vHeroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.comContact Tom: tom@heroesingrief.comTom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalksOur partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.comGet Griefy Collective (for anyone helping those in grief): https://get-griefy-small-business-collective.mn.co/share/d6W3Hzr6rS1NIhee?utm_source=manualYou also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at tom@heroesingrief.com to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you! Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shopThank you!!!

Karin McLean is a writer and spiritual explorer whose life was forever changed after surviving the tragic accident that claimed her younger brother’s life. Through the powerful signs she began receiving from him, Karin was inspired to dive deep into the mysteries of the afterlife. She now shares her experiences and research to comfort and inspire others, reminding us that our loved ones are never truly gone.Karen's Links:Website: https://authorkarinmclean.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkarinmclean/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569015283057Link to purchase Bright Days Do Come: https://amzn.to/4nra3f3========================================Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingriefNEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1vHeroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.comContact Tom: tom@heroesingrief.comTom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalksOur partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.comYou also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at tom@heroesingrief.com to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you! Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shopThank you!!!

Jack Gindi – “PapaJack”Founder, I Believe In Me Foundation | Creator, Believe. Become. Be You. | Real Estate Entrepreneur & PhilanthropistJack Gindi, known affectionately as “PapaJack,” is a lifelong entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist who has turned decades of personal triumphs and setbacks into a mission of empowerment for families worldwide.After building and managing more than half a billion dollars in real-estate transactions—and overcoming bankruptcy during the 2008 financial crisis—Jack discovered that true wealth isn’t measured in square footage or balance sheets, but in connection, belief, and purpose. That revelation became the foundation of his life’s work.He is the creator of the “I Believe In Me” (IBIM) online course and the “Believe, Become, Be You” (BBBY) movement—transformational programs that teach emotional intelligence, belief, and daily aligned action to parents, teens, and young adults. Jack’s framework, known as the Four Pillars of Life—Body, Being, Balance, and Business— helps families map their dreams and live intentionally through what he calls “Life Mapping.”Through the I Believe In Me Foundation, Jack ensures that every child, regardless of financial means, can access tools to build confidence and resilience. His “no child turned away” model allows those who can afford to give to sponsor those who cannot—creating a cycle of belief and giving that echoes his lifelong philosophy: “We rise by lifting others.”Rooted deeply in family and legacy, Jack’s journey is also shaped by the profound loss of his son Shaun, whose vision of helping kids believe in themselves continues to guide every step of Jack’s work. Whether he’s speaking on podcasts, hosting events, or mentoring young leaders, Jack’s presence is authentic, heart-driven, and filled with the wisdom of lived experience.Today, PapaJack is on a mission to bring emotional intelligence and belief-based living into homes, schools, and communities—one story, one family, one conversation at a time.Jack's links: Book time to meet with mehttps://ibelieveinmefoundation.com/https://believebecomebeyou.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jack.gindi.90https://www.facebook.com/believebecomebeyoupapajack/https://www.instagram.com/believebecomebeyouhttps://www.tiktok.com/@papajackgindihttps://www.youtube.com/@believebecomebeyou========================================Please consider supporting the podcast here:

About Reshma: I’m a mom, a widow, and someone who knows the heart-wrenching pain of unexpected loss. In 2022, my husband died by suicide. In an instant, I became a solo parent responsible for 3 grieving children. This would be my hardest role yet.Our loss was unfathomable and I understand firsthand the deep questions, the uncertainty, and the overwhelming struggle to keep going. But through my journey, I’ve discovered that healing is possible, even when it feels impossible, and I’m here to help you find your way through it.In the midst of uncertainty, I turned to what I already knew: mindfulness. My children and I began practicing mindfulness many years ago, before my husband passed away, but I didn’t fully understand its depth until I needed it the most. It’s helped me stay grounded through the chaos of grief, find light in times of darkness, and build resilience as I faced parenting and life’s demands. Mindfulness has allowed me to honor my emotions, support my children through their own struggles, and rediscover moments of joy during the hardest times.In addition to my personal experience with grief, healing, and mindful parenting, I hold a Master’s degree in Public Health and am a yoga teacher— trauma-informed and kid-certified. These qualifications, combined with my lived experiences, guide my work and allow me to offer practical tools to help you feel more present, resilient, and connected on your journey. Welcome Home! Reshma's website: www.reshmakearney.comInsagram: https://www.instagram.com/reshmakearney/Email Reshma: hello@reshmakearney.com========================================Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingriefNEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1vHeroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.comContact Tom: tom@heroesingrief.comTom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalksOur partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.comYou also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at tom@heroesingrief.com to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you! Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shopThank you!!!

Hannah's Bio: Hi, I’m Hannah—a coach, writer, and lover of wild places.My work is for people who want to reconnect with their whole and wild selves. I weave modern science, resilience psychology, and ancient wisdom to help you navigate life’s challenges and create your own path to aliveness.Once upon a time, I was a type-A doer—always hustling, always striving. My background is in engineering, endurance sports, and big adventures. I was all forward momentum and high-functioning control.But the year I turned 30, a wave of deep personal loss cracked my world open. The grief shattered my old definitions of success, and I was forced to rebuild my life from the inside out. I began unlearning the parts of me that were built for survival instead of wholeness. And I slowly returned to the wisdom of my body, the power of story, and the steady rhythm of my innate nature.Fast forward to nowI guide others through that same wilderness of uncertainty, suffering and the unknown—through coaching, writing, conversation, and time outdoors.I don’t promise quick fixes. I offer depth, presence, compassion and practical tools for navigating the very real challenges of being human.Hannah's website: https://www.hannahrae.nz/Rewild You podcast: https://www.hannahrae.nz/podcast========================================Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingriefNEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1vHeroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.comContact Tom: tom@heroesingrief.comTom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalksOur partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.comYou also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at tom@heroesingrief.com to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you! Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shopThank you!!!

Nina created the Grief and Light Podcast after the sudden and unexpected loss of her only sibling, Yosef, as an authentic exploration of grief and life after loss. Through each conversation, she aims to give a voice to the griever’s experience, and foster a more grief-informed, hopeful world. Beyond the podcast, Nina extends her heart-centered support through The Community, monthly circles, 1:1 grief tending sessions, speaking engagements, active presence on social media, and forthcoming in-person retreats.​She has been featured in various publications and podcasts, regularly contributes to Get Griefy Magazine, co-authored Resilient A.F.: Stories of Resilience (2025), and completed the Grief Care Professional Certificate Program under renowned psychotherapist and best-selling author of It's OK That You're Not OK, Megan Devine.​Nina is based in Miami, FL, and open to aligned collaborations, speaking engagements, and opportunities both virtually and IRL.​Get to know more at @griefandlight.========================================Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingriefNEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1vHeroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.comContact Tom: tom@heroesingrief.comTom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalksOur partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.comYou also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at tom@heroesingrief.com to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you! Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions:

Wendela Whitcomb Marsh is an award-winning author, sought-after speaker, and autism expert specializing in late-diagnosed autism. Following a long and fulfilling career in education, she took early retirement to write. She has had eight books about autism published since then, garnering 6 prestigious book awards so far. She has been featured on podcasts, spoken in many venues, been interviewed on panels, provided webinars and trainings, and she appears in an upcoming documentary about autism, The Neurodivergent Gift: Unboxing Autism. Dr. Wendy is also the founder and CEO of Adult Autism Assessment & Services, a neurodiversity-affirming group practice. Her team of clinicians provides autism and ADHD assessment, counseling, and life coaching for adults across the country, identifying autism even when it has been masked well.Wendela has three adult children, two of whom are transgender and autistic. Her late husband of 27 years was also autistic. Dr. Wendy holds a religious studies doctorate in pastoral counseling with specialization in autism. Since retiring from a 40 year career in special education and educational psychology, she moved from California to Oregon with her three children. Now she writes books about autism, has a nationwide group practice providing adult autism assessment and services, and has an online church, The SWAN Church: Scripture & Worship for All Neurotypes, to provide spiritual support for people who have felt marginalized, including those who are neurodivergent and/or on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.Wendy's website: https://wendelawhitcombmarsh.com/Wendy's books: https://amzn.to/4pz9EcWAdult Autism Assessment: https://adultautismassessment.com/========================================Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingriefNEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1vHeroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.comContact Tom: tom@heroesingrief.comTom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalksOur partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.comYou also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at tom@heroesingrief.com to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you! Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shopThank you!!!

Jane Meakin is a gifted international medium known for her compassionate and evidential readings that bring comfort and connection to those seeking messages from the spirit world. With warmth and sensitivity, she helps reconnect you with loved ones who have passed, delivering messages of love, reassurance, and healing. Jane is especially honoured to work with Helping Parents Heal, offering bereaved parents a heartfelt bridge to their children in spirit. Her readings provide deep personal insight, peace, and spiritual support - all from the comfort of your own home via a Zoom video call.Jane's website: Jane Meakin | International MediumHelping Parents Heal: www.helpingparentsheal.org ========================================Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingriefNEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1vHeroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.comContact Tom: tom@heroesingrief.comTom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalksOur partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.comYou also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at tom@heroesingrief.com to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you! Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shopThank you!!!

Tara Accardo is a Grief and Soul Purpose Coach and host of the Life With Grief Podcast. After losing her parents to cancer within six months of each other and navigating a traumatic birth experience, her journey of grieving led her to create Losses Become Gains—a community for fellow grievers that serves tools, resources, inspiration, and guidance on how to navigate grief, loss, and moving forward in life with both in tow. Through her podcast, one-on-one coaching and other modalities of support, Tara’s passion, calling, and commitment to uplifting and empowering fellow grievers runs deep.Losses Become Gains website: https://lossesbecomegains.com/Work with Tara: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-taraLife With Grief podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-with-grief-podcast/id1688812587Losses Become Gains Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegainsLife With Grief podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/========================================Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingriefNEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1vHeroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.comContact Tom: tom@heroesingrief.comTom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalksOur partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.comYou also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at tom@heroesingrief.com to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you! Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shopThank you!!!